Chapter 12 #2
The main area was filled with warm laughter and the chatter of feminine voices.
Several old ladies were gathered around the couches and bar in the lounge, and they immediately lit up as soon as they spotted us.
Elena, Onyx’s woman, moved toward Hannah first, cradling her four-month-old son, Kayde, in one arm.
Stella followed with her son, Cadell, balanced on her hip, and her free hand resting on her small baby bump.
Blaze’s old lady, Courtney, had their son, Arlen, on her hip, the toddler’s chubby fists gripping her shirt as she smiled warmly.
Another one whose pregnancy was unmistakable despite her loose, comfortable clothing.
Thea, Wizard’s wife, held Skye in her arms, the eleven-month-old watching the gathering with curious eyes, chewing on her fist and drooling as only a teething baby does.
I gently squeezed Hannah’s waist, then leaned down to whisper against her ear, my lips brushing her skin. “You’re safe here, Hannah. This is your family now.”
Her eyes softened, and a smile tugged at her lips as Elena reached out and gently touched Isa’s cheek. I nodded to the women, silently expressing my thanks as I reluctantly stepped away and turned to walk down the hall toward Wizard’s office.
My boots echoed as I approached, already hearing the muffled rumble of male voices from inside the room.
I pushed open the door without hesitation, stepping into the familiar space.
Wizard sat behind his cluttered desk, his dark eyes narrowed in concentration as he studied one of his computer screens.
Blaze leaned against the wall to my right, his expression hard and alert.
Rebel was on the couch on the far side of the room, feet up on another chair, and a laptop balanced on his thighs.
My gaze landed on the monitor positioned on Wizard’s desk that had his attention, and I froze briefly in surprise.
Kane Beckett was on a video call, his sharp green eyes and rugged features filling the screen.
He was the president of the Redline Kings MC—a group headquartered in a small beach town in Florida.
They were entrenched in the world of racing, both legal and underground.
They were also friends and allies, so it wasn’t exactly unusual to see him.
But his expression told me this shit was serious and probably bigger than we’d initially anticipated.
Wizard glanced up, giving me a nod in greeting before diving right into the update. “Facial recognition finally pinged. Those men watching you and Hannah are patches or known associates of the Division Nine MC out of Atlanta.”
My jaw tightened, the name ringing only faintly familiar.
Growing up in Atlanta, I’d heard whispers of their club.
Nothing concrete, but enough to know they were dangerous fuckers to cross.
Still, my knowledge was vague, limited by the fact that I’d only come into the MC world after patching with the Hounds in Riverstone.
I glanced at Kane on the screen, acknowledging him silently before he spoke.
“Division Nine’s trouble.” Kane’s tone was grim as he leaned back slightly in his chair. “They have chapters scattered around Florida, including one too fucking close to Crossbend. Had our eyes on them for a while.”
“What do you know?” I asked, keeping my voice even despite the tension coiling tighter inside me.
“They’re into drug transport and distribution, mostly moving product for bigger players.
But it’s not just their business practices that make them bad news.
” Kane’s eyes darkened, his expression turning deadly serious.
“They’re known for extreme violence and disappearances.
No fucking code of conduct. These are merciless, evil motherfuckers, Cross. ”
I worked to keep calm, my fists clenching at my sides until my knuckles whitened. Rage simmered beneath my skin, dangerously close to erupting, but I forced myself to breathe deep, steady breaths. Losing control wasn’t an option.
Wizard leaned forward, his dark eyes meeting mine. There was a seriousness in his expression that immediately set me on edge. “There’s more, Cross.”
Fuck. I braced myself, mentally ordering myself to stay composed. Losing my shit wouldn’t help my family. It would only hinder our efforts, and I wasn’t about to allow that.
“We traced the hack into Hannah’s files back to Division Nine as well,” Wizard continued, the tightness around his eyes betraying his own anger at the situation.
My jaw hardened, and the edges of my control frayed further as I ground out, “Why her?”
Rebel shifted forward, his own expression tense, and answered me with a grim shake of his head.
“We’re not sure yet, but there’s something else.
Evidence points to them watching Hannah before she even came to Riverstone.
As far as we can tell, it started right around the time she began fostering Isa. ”
My gut twisted. “Then maybe it’s about Isa and not Hannah.
” I paused, my thoughts racing. “But if it’s only about Isa, why the fuck are they poking into my life?
” Then realization struck me like a lightning bolt.
“Are they the reason Gavin’s hiding?” I leveled a hard stare at Wizard.
“Where the hell are we at with finding that son of a bitch?”
Rebel leaned back against the couch, folding his arms across his chest and narrowing his eyes.
“Gavin’s still off-grid. Wizard’s piecing together his last movements, but we’ve got boots on the ground in Atlanta digging deeper.
They’ll be looking closer into Division Nine now, too.
But brother, right now you’ve got to act like everything is fucking normal.
We can’t spook these assholes, or they’ll move before we’re ready.
Echo’s got eyes and ears on their movements, and Wizard’s tracking their digital footprint. ”
I swallowed the growl threatening to rip from my throat, the effort to contain my fury taking nearly everything I had. “Fine.”
Wizard cleared his throat, drawing my attention once more. His expression was uneasy. “One more thing. The chatter we’re picking up around your name—it’s all coming from Division Nine.”
My muscles tensed harder, my fingers flexing involuntarily.
The instinct for violent, lethal retribution surged, hot and nearly overwhelming.
I was a man accustomed to solving problems swiftly and brutally, but patience was something I’d always managed.
Until now. When it came to Hannah and Isa, holding back felt impossible.
Every protective instinct in me screamed to handle it immediately.
Blaze interrupted my spiraling thoughts, his eyes zeroing in on me with laser focus. “We’ll keep security tight on Hannah and Isa. Keep them close, and if things even start to look sideways, bring her to the clubhouse.”
I gave a sharp nod, then spun on my heel and stalked out of the room, tension radiating with every step as I headed back toward the common room.
The short walk felt interminable as my mind raced, every step driven by the raw determination to shield Hannah and Isa from whatever chaos Gavin had stirred up.
When I reached them, Hannah was sitting on one of the leather couches, Isa cradled gently in her arms. She was laughing softly at something Isa was doing, the sound warm and effortless, filled with happiness.
The innocence and peace at that moment twisted my heart, tightening it with the knowledge that she had no idea about the darkness looming just beyond her awareness.
I paused in the doorway, my gaze sweeping slowly over her.
Her golden hair cascaded over her shoulders, and a soft smile curved her lips.
Her eyes sparkled, relaxed and carefree, completely unaware of the threat breathing down her neck.
I swore silently, making a vow so fierce and absolute it was etched in my bones.
No fucking harm would come to my family, not as long as there was breath in my body.
Unable to resist, I crossed the room, a primal need to be connected surging through me.
I moved to the couch, leaning over her and caging her in with my arms. Hannah glanced up, surprise flickering across her beautiful features.
Her pulse quickened visibly in her throat, and I saw a flush spread down her chest. I felt that familiar, consuming hunger ignite inside me, despite everything swirling around us.
“Everything okay?” she asked softly, sensing my tension even as she kept her tone light.
I gave her a small nod, my voice rougher than intended as I murmured, “Yeah.”
My hand reached out, gently cupping her jaw before tightening possessively, angling her face upward.
She gasped softly, her pupils dilating as I leaned in slowly, closing the space between us and sealing my mouth firmly over hers.
I kissed her slowly and thoroughly, taking my time as I reminded myself of how perfect she felt.
How deeply she belonged to me. Her lips softened beneath mine, her body melting under my touch.
I pulled back only far enough to meet her eyes, holding her gaze with fierce intensity. Nothing on this earth was going to stop me from keeping this woman forever. And anyone who tried to take her from me was gonna find themselves learning the limits of their pain.